Help wanted on a Serbian farm – cultural exchange at its rawest 🌿
Location: Razana, Serbia
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
My name is Julien, from France, and I write this on behalf of my dearest friends, the Maksimovic family, because they only speak Serbian. Note that this language barrier is in no way a problem. After all, I don't speak Serbian either, and they are still my dearest friends.
The Maksimovics want international travellers on the farm for two simple reasons. First, it is a farm, and there is always stuff to do. Second, they are the most hospitable and open-minded people in the world, and they genuinely love having guests from different cultures around them.
This is cultural exchange at its most honest and unfiltered. I have learned more about the Balkan way of life in a month with them than my foreign friends who have been living in Belgrade for years. I am also learning Serbian fast, which sounds useless only to those who do not know that it is basically the same language everywhere in former Yugoslavia. A Serbian speaker can communicate fairly well with a Bulgarian, a Czech, or a Russian, so you might find yourself picking up more than you expect.
The food is as fresh as it gets. You will drink milk that was inside a cow yesterday, along with many strange and delicious dairy products made from it. Eggs come straight out of the chicken. Bread is kneaded by your own hands. There is lovingly made rakija, a Serbian liquor that is orders of magnitude better than anything on the market. And the lamb meat was walking just hours ago. At this point, it might be relevant to warn vegans that this is probably not the right place. Vegetarians have fared very well, though.
As of today, there is a beautiful lawn to pitch your tent near a stream, in the shade of great trees. We are already thinking about setting up a proper shelter for volunteers. I understand that this is not the best accommodation situation. However, many of us have spent several weeks on the farm living out of tents and still had the time of our lives. The Maksimovics are visibly embarrassed that I sleep in a tent. Maybe if you join us soon, you will get to participate in building activities.
If you are open-minded, love nature, and are not afraid of getting your hands dirty, this might be the adventure you are looking for. Come for the work, stay for the rakija, and leave with stories you will tell for years.
The Maksimovics want international travellers on the farm for two simple reasons. First, it is a farm, and there is always stuff to do. Second, they are the most hospitable and open-minded people in the world, and they genuinely love having guests from different cultures around them.
This is cultural exchange at its most honest and unfiltered. I have learned more about the Balkan way of life in a month with them than my foreign friends who have been living in Belgrade for years. I am also learning Serbian fast, which sounds useless only to those who do not know that it is basically the same language everywhere in former Yugoslavia. A Serbian speaker can communicate fairly well with a Bulgarian, a Czech, or a Russian, so you might find yourself picking up more than you expect.
The food is as fresh as it gets. You will drink milk that was inside a cow yesterday, along with many strange and delicious dairy products made from it. Eggs come straight out of the chicken. Bread is kneaded by your own hands. There is lovingly made rakija, a Serbian liquor that is orders of magnitude better than anything on the market. And the lamb meat was walking just hours ago. At this point, it might be relevant to warn vegans that this is probably not the right place. Vegetarians have fared very well, though.
As of today, there is a beautiful lawn to pitch your tent near a stream, in the shade of great trees. We are already thinking about setting up a proper shelter for volunteers. I understand that this is not the best accommodation situation. However, many of us have spent several weeks on the farm living out of tents and still had the time of our lives. The Maksimovics are visibly embarrassed that I sleep in a tent. Maybe if you join us soon, you will get to participate in building activities.
WORKING ARRANGEMENT
Farm work varies by season and by what needs doing on the day. There is always something to tend to, animals to feed, gardens to care for, fences to fix, or firewood to collect. The tasks are practical and hands-on, and you will be part of the daily rhythm of farm life. The hours are flexible, and the work is shared among everyone present.LIVING ARRANGEMENT
For now, accommodation is tent-based. There is plenty of space, a beautiful spot near the stream, and shade from the trees. Meals are provided and shared together, and you will eat what the farm produces. It is simple, honest, and deeply satisfying.If you are open-minded, love nature, and are not afraid of getting your hands dirty, this might be the adventure you are looking for. Come for the work, stay for the rakija, and leave with stories you will tell for years.
